After debacle against Patriots, Bears moving on

Olsen: 'Once everyone makes playoffs it's kind of a clean slate'

The Bears had a handful of losses last season like the one they suffered against the Patriots on Sunday, so it's not as if it has been so long since they have had to sift through the wreckage.

Making the recovery easier Monday at Halas Hall was the reality that as wide as the gap between the teams is, the Bears remain atop the NFC North and if the season ended today they would be the No. 2 playoff seed in the conference.

That doesn't make the 36-7 whipping any easier to handle, but it keeps the outlook for the remainder of the season bright. The Bears (9-4) can clinch the division if the Packers lose to the Patriots on Sunday night and the Bears defeat the Vikings on Monday night.

"As bad as things looked, we're fortunate that we're still in a position to achieve everything we wanted," tight end Greg Olsen said. "Once everyone makes the playoffs it's kind of a clean slate, so we have our future in our hands."

Destination unknown: Bears coach Lovie Smith doesn't seem too concerned about where the Bears will play their next game after the collapse of the Metrodome roof.

"It doesn't affect anything that we're going to do," he said. "We've started our preparation. We know we'll be playing somewhere. We know the opponent and we'll go from there."

The three possible sites for the game are: the Metrodome, if it is repaired in time; the University of Minnesota's TCF Bank Stadium; or Detroit's Ford Field, where the Vikings faced the Giants on Monday night. A Metrodome official told the Minneapolis Star Tribune the timetable for reopening the storm-damaged facility won't be determined until late Tuesday afternoon.

According to the Star Tribune, the university needs a decision from the Vikings by Tuesday to get the outdoor, 50,805-seat stadium prepared for an NFL game.

Protect the ball: The Bears are minus-one in the turnover margin after four giveaways against the Patriots. One culprit is quarterback Jay Cutler, even though his interception numbers are down this season. He's tied with the Redskins' Donovan McNabb for the most fumbles (10) in the league. Cutler has lost more (6) than anyone else. His fumble against the Patriots led directly to a field goal. He surrendered a safety on a fumble in a home loss to the Seahawks.

"Look at most quarterbacks," Smith said, "most of the time the ball isn't protected when you're passing. You're aware of the pressure around you and you want to cover up when guys are coming in on you a little bit closer. But sometimes you don't know where they are. That's why they get the sack."

Cutler's 43 sacks are the most in the league, but he hasn't had a problem losing the ball like this before. Of his nine fumbles last season, only one was a turnover.

Health beat: Smith said the Bears expect to have all of their players available when they return to practice Thursday. There is a walk-through scheduled for Wednesday. That should help linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa, who's still less than two weeks removed from arthroscopic knee surgery. Running back Chester Taylor, who scored on a one-yard run against the Patriots, is battling through a knee issue. He dealt with swelling last week. He said he feels "pretty good."